Sense and Sanity Through Alliteration
Added 11/13/2009
I'm never really sure if tear-jerking war movies are a great reality check for all the ultra-violence of pop action and thriller movies, or if it's the other way around. This one is quite well shot, with a beautiful landscape that's almost visible over the gunfire. And nicely concise, to boot.
I suppose if we have enough movies that explore war, one day we'll finally be able to rationalize it for more than the 15 minutes following the closing credits. Right?
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Propaganda Ruined the Film
Added 11/5/2009
Good start, nice little war movie...but it was obvious that there was a hidden message about Mormonism sprinkled throughout the film. This type of subtle propaganda (typical of the Latter Day "Saints") ruined the film for me. I guess they wanted some talking points when they come knocking on yer door. Next time, leave the religion out.
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Good Anti-War-Movie, solid and recommendable
Added 10/31/2009
The so-called "Malmédy Massacre" is the debut of this stunning movie, which was produced with a budget under 1 Mio USD, but still comes up with astonishingly good equipment, particularly in the few fighting scenes.
The real circumstances of the Malmédy incident have - and probably never will be - fully clarified. SS-Obersturmbannführer (Lt. Col.) Joachim Peiper, who was later held responsible for the alleged massacre in the Dachau trials, had long left the scene when it occurred. SS-Sturmbannführer (Maj.) Werner Pötschke, whom Peiper had left in charge, didn't survive the war. Thus, there was and is no way to find out about a possible chain of commands.
In "Saints and Soldiers", the incident is caused by a POW who is trying to run away and gets shot, causing further panic and a spontaneous escalation of the dense situation, until the SS guards open machine gun fire on the POWs. I was surprised to watch a US movie coming up with this interpretation of the incident: Up to this point, we are not viewing a planned massacre, but a brutal act of war.
The war crime starts however, when SS men walk over the field and shoot the remaining survivors. Indeed, 41 of the dead POWs were found with head wounds (see John M. Bauserman: The Malmédy massacre. White Mane Publ., Shippensburg PA 1995.). This is a crucial fact that should be neither denied or discussed - and which is continuously ignored by those claiming that Malmédy was "just a tragedy".
Personally, heaving read various documentations about the incident (of both US and German origin) I am taking the movies' interpretation positively. However, the bit with the so-called "mercy shots" is where the thin line between act of war and war crime definitely comes to an end. The moviemakers should have put much more emphasis on this essential part of the incident. Maybe not by extending the actual shooting scene. But at least by stating these important facts in the end title.
The rest of the movie - roundabout 90% of its time - is not about the incident at the Baugnez crossroads, but shows the fate of a handful of survivors who managed to escape into the woods and now have to wind their way back behind enemy lines.
Their characters are very different and in civil life, some of these fellows probably wouldn't even have liked each other - if they had met at all, regarding their different backgrounds and whereabouts. But here, in the middle of the Belgian Ardennes, they are forced to form a team, because individually they couldn't survive. They manage that impressingly fast and well.
It is good to see that the movie is neither preaching heroism, or false pathos, or nationalism of any kind. Each of the protagonists has found their individual way to cope with war in general and with the current situation in particular: Cpl. Deacon keeps praying and reading his bible, while Medic Gould is trying to protect himself from desperation with a shield of cold, distanced attitude. British Flt. Sgt. Winley does not come across too comradely, nethertheless he and Pvt. Kendrick hold out together throughout the fights until the very end. My personal favorite is S.Sgt. Gordon, a sovereign combination of father figure and authority, particularly when dealing with traumatized Deacon.
Another good thing is that the director didn't get the silly idea of bringing romance in. The Belgian civilian and her child Sophie are staying in the house, while the soldiers remain in the outbuilding nearby. There are very moving scenes, for example little Sophie saying "bonjour" to Deacon... and Christmas Eve, when Cathérine and Sophie come by with little gifts... even for Rudolf, the German POW. But there is no good-bye. The soldiers decide to leave - next scene they are out in the woods and back to fighting and dying yet again.
I really liked the final scene, when Gould approaches a German POW to look after his wounds. Actually, it made me cry a bit.
Story-wise, "Saints and soldiers" may not be a high-class movie like "Paths of Glory" (USA, about WW1) or "The Great Illusion" (France, about WW1). It may not be as well-equipped as "Private Ryan" (USA, about WW2) or Vietnam-classics like "Platoon" and "Apocalypse Now". But considering its low budget, "Saints and Soldiers" is technically (equipment, color, sound) really well produced. The actors may not be known (at least not to me), but all of them come across intensively good. As a native, I easily detected a slight accent in the German spoken by Deacon and even that of some SS soldiers; but hey, let's not be overcritical. "Saints and Soldiers" tells nothing really new, its storyline is a bit thin and the coincidences (particularly regarding Deacon meeting his German friend Rudolf in the middle of nowhere) a bit thick... which is why I deducted 2 points.
In my opinion, this movie should not be watched by minors, or at least they should be accompanied by an adult. The movie contains neither coarse language or sex scenes, but the few fighting scenes are rather graphic and can really get to you, particularly if you are not used to watching this kind of movie on a frequent basis or if you have personal strings to the topic.
All in all, it is a good anti-war-movie and the DVD definitely worth its price. I recommend it.
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Fantastic War Movie!
Added 10/20/2009
I've seen almost every WWII movie to date and several other great war movies and this is easily in my top two, besides band of brothers. I could easily write thousands of words why this movie is great but I will sum it up in a simple phrase...it's simply about what makes the US great, and what the US was built on. I strongly recommend this movie to anyone who loves war movies and anyone who is a movie buff in general.
0 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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Saints and Soldiers
Added 10/15/2009
This is a very well done movie. reflects truthful events and it was a touching and good movie. It to me was as good as a movie done by Hollywood. I think it is as good as "Saving Private Ryan". I reccomend that all see this movie and remember the experience of those who participated in the world 2 war, and The battle of the Bulge. It reminds us to remember those who gave their lifes for us and our freedoms. The touchng way the 2 members of The Church Of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints can love past the bounderies of hate and a war.
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